Percy Montgomery joined the Boks Office crew at Camps Bay to revisit the ban that — by his own account — accidentally rebuilt his career. Montgomery explained that his infamous red card in Wales came after a referee slipped and fell near him during a match Swansea were losing 22-0; he insists he never touched the official but started walking to the tunnel the moment the ref went down because he knew what was coming. Rather than derail him, the enforced six-month absence triggered a full pre-season and a reworked two-step kicking technique — the same technique that would make him the most reliable boot in the 2007 World Cup final. "I was kicking in the snow at Newport," he told the hosts, "and I said to Bob Skinstad: I'm not finished with Springbok rugby yet." Montgomery also recalled his first encounter with Jonah Lomu at the Adelaide Sevens — a one-on-one he describes as requiring roughly three men just to slow Lomu down — and made the case that Christian Cullen, not Lomu, was the most technically brilliant All Black he faced, praising Cullen's balanced running and ability to offer a line without ever calling for the ball.
Monty on his six-month ban, World Cup redemption, and going toe-to-toe with Jonah Lomu
Percy Montgomery reveals how a six-month ban accidentally rebuilt his kicking game, describes his first terrifying encounter with Lomu at Sevens level, and explains the Jake White phone call that brought him back for 2007 World Cup glory.
Percy Montgomery reveals how a six-month ban accidentally rebuilt his kicking game, describes his first terrifying encounter with Lomu at Sevens level, and explains the Jake White phone call that brought him back for 2007 World Cup glory.
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